West London Free School Primary Review 2026: Knowledge-rich, high-attaining, and heavily oversubscribed

An extended school day, an unapologetically knowledge-led curriculum, and outcomes that sit well above England averages make this a primary that attracts families from well beyond its immediate streets. The school opened in September 2013 with two Reception classes and now runs Reception to Year 6 at full capacity.

Leadership sits within Knowledge Schools Trust, and the current executive headteacher is Marianne Chapman. The most recent inspection, carried out in February 2025, graded every judgement area as Outstanding (including early years).

For families, the big draw is clear, a demanding and carefully sequenced curriculum, strong reading culture, and consistently high attainment. The trade-off is equally clear, getting a Reception place is the hard part.

The school’s stated values are Kind, Inclusive, Scholarly, Inspired, Resilient, and they appear as more than branding. External review evidence points to pupils feeling safe, behaviour being calm and consistent, and routines being well established from early years upwards.

A defining feature of the school’s identity is its trust-wide “classical liberal education” framing, translated in primary as a distinctive Primary Knowledge Curriculum. For many children this style is motivating, because learning is treated as cumulative and serious, with plenty of emphasis on building a secure store of knowledge that supports later reading comprehension and writing quality.

Pastoral culture is supported by clear safeguarding information and a structured approach to child protection awareness for families. The school also leans into community signals that matter to younger pupils, including a school dog, Cassie the Border Collie, following the earlier school dog, Dipsy.

This is a high-performing state primary by any reasonable benchmark. In 2024, 95.67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. Science outcomes were 100% at the expected standard, compared with an England average of 82%.

Higher-standard performance is equally striking. In 2024, 55.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. Scaled scores are also strong, with average scaled scores of 110 in reading, maths, and GPS, and a combined score of 330 across reading, maths and GPS.

On FindMySchool’s proprietary primary ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 424th in England and 8th within Hammersmith and Fulham, placing it well above England average overall (top 10%). Parents comparing nearby schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool.

The educational proposition is coherent. The school describes its curriculum as knowledge-rich and carefully sequenced, with a strong equity aim, ensuring that background does not limit access to ambitious content.

Reading is treated as the gateway to everything else. The most recent report describes reading as central to the curriculum, supported by high-quality texts, well-planned reading spaces, and a phonics programme taught with precision, including close matching of books to the sounds pupils are learning. The practical implication for families is that children who enjoy books, facts, and structured learning often thrive, and children who need more time can still progress because gaps are identified and addressed quickly.

Curriculum breadth is not superficial. Examples cited externally include pupils building on prior historical knowledge when studying the Second World War in Year 6, and early years children learning comparative number concepts that then underpin later mathematical problem-solving.

As a primary, the key “destination” is Year 7 choice. The school publishes a list of recent secondary destinations spanning state, selective, and independent routes. Options include West London Free School, Holland Park School, Twyford CofE High School, The London Oratory School, Fulham Cross, and Fulham Girls, alongside independent destinations such as Godolphin and Latymer, Latymer Upper School, St Paul’s School, St Paul’s Girls’ School, and others.

The implication is that the school supports a wide spread of next steps. Families considering the independent route will still need to plan ahead for assessments and scholarship processes, but the published destination mix suggests that this is familiar territory for the community.

Reception entry is competitive. For the latest admissions cycle there were 305 applications for 60 offers, a subscription proportion of 5.08 applications per place. First-preference pressure is also material, with first-preference demand exceeding available offers (ratio 1.49).

The school is clear that it does not operate a catchment area. Instead, it explains that most places are allocated by straight-line distance from the school gate (referenced as the gate on Banim Street), with the precise cut-off varying year to year depending on applicant distribution. Families who are serious about applying should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their distance to the school gates, then sanity-check that against recent patterns, recognising that distance thresholds can tighten or loosen each year.

One additional nuance for September 2026 entry is a Pupil Premium priority mechanism. The school states that 30% of Reception places are set aside for children eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant for 2026 to 2027, with a supplementary process alongside the coordinated application route, and a stated date of 15 January 2026 for submitting the relevant form.

Pastoral support appears to be a core strength, not an afterthought. External review evidence describes pupils as feeling safe, behaviour as exemplary, and the learning environment as calm and focused. Safeguarding arrangements are recorded as effective.

Support for pupils with SEND is described as proactive, with needs identified quickly and precise support put in place to enable access to learning. Practically, this suggests a school that expects high outcomes for all pupils while still investing in targeted scaffolding where it is needed.

Wraparound and enrichment are unusually prominent for a state primary. The school’s wraparound provision is branded as The Club, launched in June 2019, covering breakfast club, after-school care, and holiday club activity.

Extracurricular options include a rotating programme of clubs with named activities. Examples from the published Cambridge Grove schedule include Comic and Manga Club, Inventors (STEM), fencing, capoeira, chess coaching, street dance, cookery, drama, gymnastics, and guitar club. For families, the implication is twofold. Children can find “their thing” early, and working parents have structured childcare options, although many clubs are paid. For example, the published schedule includes breakfast club priced at £6 per day, and after-school wraparound options via The Club with tiered session pricing.

The school also describes a music specialism that aims for every child to learn at least one instrument, which can be a meaningful differentiator for families who want music to be part of normal school life rather than an occasional add-on.

The school runs an extended day. Gates open 8.15am to 8.30am for a soft start, registration begins at 8.30am, and the day finishes at 3.30pm, described as a 35-hour week.

Wraparound care is available via The Club, which offers breakfast provision, after-school care, and holiday club activity, with booking managed through the school’s parent platform. For travel, the school is in Hammersmith, and families should expect typical West London constraints around drop-off and parking. For most, walking, cycling, or public transport will be the easiest pattern.

• Admission pressure. With 305 applications for 60 offers year, demand is far above supply. If location flexibility is limited, this may be a risky single-option plan.

• No catchment certainty. The school does not use a catchment area and explains that distance cut-offs move each year. You may be close and still miss out in a high-demand year.

• Curriculum fit. A knowledge-led model suits many children, but it can feel intense for pupils who prefer a looser, project-first style. This is worth probing during tours and conversations.

• Budget for extras. Tuition is state-funded, but wraparound and many clubs are paid, so costs can add up for families using multiple sessions each week.

West London Free School Primary is a high-attaining, highly structured state primary with a distinctive curriculum identity and serious academic ambition. Families who value a knowledge-rich approach, strong reading culture, and an extended day with wraparound options are likely to shortlist it quickly. It best suits children who respond well to routine and explicit teaching, and families who can tolerate admissions uncertainty and plan multiple application contingencies.